Guards Red - Too Flashy?

Would you please render an opinion on this? What comes to mind when you see a Guards Red (w/Beige Interior) 996 Cab? I was looking for a 996 Cab but I wasn't expecting Guards Red. I'm open to it... I'm just wondering what friends & clients will think when I show up in a bright red P-car. (I sell homes for a living). Any thoughts or gut reactions would be welcome! Thanks for your honest responses!

The fact you're having to ask would seem to suggest you are not very comfortable with Guard's Red and might think it's a little too much for you or your given profession. Color is a matter of taste and comfort. It sounds like you have sort of answered your own question....by that I mean that you'd probably be more "comfortable" with a more subdued color when presenting yourself to your prospective clients...i.e. real estate clientele. Perhaps a blue or more sedate color would suit your comfort level better? Most real estate folks I know drive the more conservative color schemes...and they don't drive Porsches either. Not because Porsches are inappropriate...but mostly because they need a four door car to get the husband, wife, and other lookie-loos in the car too. If you look at my Avatar, you'll see what I'm "comfortable" in.... Chuck

Completely true Chuck Of course, if I saw a Bright red Porsche Cabrio with a beige interior - I might also think "this guy is fast moving and gets things done" - it could reflect on your personality. If you're the hard working fast moving type, then go for it, it might work for you. Of course if you're more quiet and 'professional' a calmer colour might work Having said that... You can't be doing too badly, oubviously, if you can afford a Porsche, and your choice in automobile might not matter.

If car will be used to drive client around, I would not get a 911, not a cab. Color doesn't matter at that point. Most people like the look and feel of a Porsche and think it's over priced. It's true that there are cheaper cars that are faster. Therefore, people will think of you as a show off if you don't like you or know you.

screams "chick car!"

No it is not too flashy for a Porsche, but agree a Porsche is too flashy for selling houses unless we are talking the rich. When I usually look at houses they take me in some 4 door American automobile but again I am not rich.

I'm in the same profession and use a 4Runner as my daily driver. I have actually slogged it through wet, muddy fields while showing raw land, so for my needs, utility comes before image. If I needed to drive a Porsche daily and meet prospective clients, I would opt for silver or gray. People can be very strange, and can quickly form some pretty twisted opinions of someone based on the car they drive. Andreas

I get ALOT of compliments on the color scheme...from Porsche people at Car shows or people at Walmart... http://www.cardomain.com/ride/1108818/1

Just a couple of thoughts... It's the wrong car for the business. You should have a 4 door car with a hard top, that rides like a limo. If you want your clients to enjoy the ride, yet maintain your Porsche addiction, buy a Cayenne. I was in home sales for many years. I purchased a Ford Taurus SHO. It had the 4 doors, the climate control, and the performance. It did elimate the "old-timers - buy American - he's rich and is over-priced" objections. I cancelled an in-home sale when the salesman got cocky with me bragging about how he was able to drive-maintain-and pay for his Saleen, selling Cutco knives. Just my honest and humble opinion.

You state that you are looking, so I assume that you now have a car to use in the business. Keep it and buy the Porsche for fun. If this financially over extends you a little, it can only be good for business. I found this out over 30 years ago.

I'm conservative about appearances and have owned silver or black cars since time immemorial. When I saw my present Guards Red 911, I was so unsure about how aggressive it looked that I dragged my wife to the dealer on a Sunday. After she easily OK'd it, I bought it and am glad I did. What I now notice is that there are more red cars on the road than ever, due probably to silver/black/gray fatigue setting in with a lot of folks. No views on whether it's smart for your business.

Agree that it is the wrong car for a real estate salesman - p-car probably too flashy, no room to tote the customers around in, you have to slop through some pretty ugly conditions at times. Guards red - love the color. It looks great on 911s.

I also agree that a 911 is the wrong choice as a business car for a realtor. Aside from utility concerns, there's typically a negative stereotype on red sports car owners. As a realtor, where trust and comfort factor with the client are paramount, you want your customers to focus on your expertise and not the car you drive. Unfortunately, a red sports car -- regardless of the make -- just won't let them do that. Color preferences are all subjective. I for one think guards red is gorgeous on 993 and prior, but not too fond of it on 996/7.

Is that because most men couldn't handle the color?? It is a flashy color...and if you are questioning the color...perhaps look at different colors. With the influx of so many of these cars on the market, I am sure you can find the one that is just right for you.

Silver is more traditional. Red is more flashy. I'd get a red for the weekend, but Silver if I was driving it to show houses. Um, I have Silver now, and it's a daily driver - but I WISH I had a red one -td

I agree with the earlier post...if you have to ask...it isn't for you. I have a guards red '02 with black interior, red console, red belts...I like red. My 944 was also guards red. The car will stop traffic and turn heads. If you don't like the extra attention, get silver.

I don't drive the Porsche to clients - I did it twice and both commented on how they're paying my firm too much money. I visit them in a Chevy Tahoe. I dislike red on many cars but I like it a lot on the Porsche. If you go red, I think you need 18" rims, minimum, and at least a slight tint to the windows. Red is an aggressive color, so I think it looks odd if everything else is plain.

u did it? twice? agree to most here 996 is not a business car. it's the same as blue jeans

Guards...I wouldn't have it any other way.....

I do real estate as well (commercial not residential). I agree with the others that a 911 is not a good car for real estate. Buy the p-car as a weekend car, get a used four door for work. When I meet with clients and investors I take my Audi S4, most people don't know what an S4 is and everyone thinks it's just an A4 so I don't get the "you make too much" comment. Only once did a CEO of a major coporation get all excited and say "Wow, you have an S4". When I'm know that I'm going to be stuck in the office all day, I take my p-car.

When I was shopping for my cab, I test drove a nice red/black '03. SWMBO said "it just screams mid-life crisis" and partly because of that (but mostly other reasons) I bought my slate gray cab. My 993 was red, but for some reason the coupe doesn't scream "lookie at me, I'm driving a Porsche!" as much as a cab, so the color wasn't quite so, so... uh, well, it didn't seem to make quite as much of a statement. I did get a fair amount of hassle though. But as everyone also said, it's the wrong car for your business anyway. Get what YOU want and don't worry about what other people think. Michael

I had some people come to me after a show saying it was the funniest thing they had ever seen and how happy they where to see the show. The same people saw me getting into my car after the show and gave me a dirty look. I can only assume it was because I was driving a nicer car than they would have thought. Unfortunately, people judge without knowing all the circumstances. If you like the car, get the car. Just my .02 cents.

Getting a p-car says lots of things about you that you would prefer not to be said. If you care, then don't drive it in the professional environment. Rarely a week passes by that someone doens't make a comment about me owning a Porsche. It's usually harmless, but the insinuation is a strong one of "he's one of those kind of people"

In a word... Yes. JKC

Thanks for your thoughtful responses. I appreciate it! I'm grateful to be part of this community.

Too Flashy. Yes!!

I just don't see a Porsche as an option for a realtor. If you buy it, just don't lease it - the way house prices are dropping, you may be living in it...

flashy - only because you have your red poser tail flying high.

Not too flashy for me since all my cars are red. People expect it from me by now and for the new guys....GET OVER IT No poser tail here.

Must be some weird karma (carma?) going on. I made a comment yesterday on the thread about Lapis blue color combos, and ten minutes later a lapis blue/tan 996 drove up to my business. Then on the way to work today, I was passed by a guards red/tan 996 cab. Then I find this thread. Both of these are colors I hardly ever see. The guy in the red 996 cab was older and chubby with a much younger and more attractive woman in the passenger seat. My first thought was "mid life crisis". My second thought was, "he sure looks like he's enjoying his mid life crisis!".

Like Eric, I ** hate ** Guards Red P-cars! You will receive more attention but I find it mostly positive and it's what I personally like. The decision is yours, and yours alone to make my friend.

russbert - that is one seriously sweet car. I have a 2000 Guards Red C2 Coupe and I absolutely love it, but I would trade for that little woman of yours in a split second. P.S. - I'd throw in some extra cash of course

Porsches are too flashy, period.

Porsche owners are poser a$$holes that deserve to have their cars keyed and be run off the road. ...sorry, just in case the humor impared didn't get it, that was a joke.

DreamCarrera, Thanks very much for the kind comments! I love my baby (oh, and my wife too)!!

Flashback to why 90% of 996s are in some shade of Grey